An MP has praised staff working through a tough winter in hospital.

Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has praised staff at Barnet Hospital after visiting them on January 12.

Ms Villiers met with Dr Steve Shaw, the hospital's chief executive, and visited the emergency department to speak to doctors and nurses.

This comes after the announcement that A&E waiting times across the country are at a record high, however in Barnet nearly 80 per cent are being seen in four hours.

She said: "At this time of the year, many NHS has hospitals across the country face additional pressure because more patients than normal need their help, particularly when winter flu is widespread. So I wanted to visit Barnet Hospital to hear at first-hand how its emergency department was coping with winter pressure.

"I’ve been reassured by my visit. They clearly have an excellent team in Barnet Hospital. Inevitably at this time of the year, with much greater numbers visiting A&E, some people will have waited longer than is usually the case."

"I would like to pay tribute to the management and staff at Barnet Hospital for their hard work in caring for patients, particularly our frail elderly population."